Meet Jennifer Leahy | Cosmetologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Leahy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
When I started my career, I was a junior and senior in high school. I was not only juggling cosmetology school but also a job and cheerleading. I learned then that I had to be really good at time management to make everything that I wanted to do work. I had no free days and was constantly busy. I went on to graduate high school and continued this busy life while I went to college full time and still kept my career as a cosmetologist. I remember a day when my manager at the salon said to me “Do you want Friday’s off so you have a day of nothing?” It had never even crossed my mind that that was an option. Fast forward to today, 12 years into my career, I’m a mom of three boys and still very hard-working but I very much value my free days. My schedule now is that I work 3 12 hour days, sometimes those 12-hour days turn into 14 hour days, but these long days allow me to have a ton of Freedom at home with my family. I absolutely love what I do with my clients but I love it even more because I take the time to love my life outside of work too.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love this question. My sister within the last year actually became a licensed cosmetologist so I’ve been talking about this a lot with her. I tell her “The beginning is the hardest. In the beginning you have to not only learn how to formulate your clients hair color or remember how to cut their hair but you have to learn their name their kid’s names where they work what they mean when they say what they want in a consultation and if they really mean what they say.” You are learning so much all at one time and it is overwhelming. Your brain has to go a mile a minute and you have to feel like you’re on top even when you’re brand new to learning. As the years go on hopefully you have regulars that now you know their personality and their likes and dislikes so I can focus on their hair. I love having deep conversations with my clients and getting to know them and the longer I’ve had them the better that is but it also gives me the opportunity to really focus on learning about hair. Education is something I value and I vow to never stop learning. I love taking classes and finding out about the newest trends in order to stay relevant Behind the Chair.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My best friend lives in California and when she comes back home we love going to the Michigan wine trail to do some wine tasting. Recently one of my favorite restaurants is called Essence in Elkhart. The food and the service there is absolutely amazing. We would definitely be stopping at Oh Mama’s cheese shop in South Bend to get some delicious artisan cheese and make a charcuterie bord to eat at home. In the summer we definitely make our way up to Michigan to go to Silver Beach Pizza and enjoy the beach. If it’s winter time and the snow is right we go sledding every single time. Another one of my favorite places and areas around me right now is to go to Sun King brewery on the Mishawaka Riverwalk and walk around and explore.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to shoutout Samye Nagle, the owner of Rae Studios where I currently work. We have “grown up” in the hair world since Beauty School to our first salon all the way to her owning the salon that were in now. She is a busy mom of four but still takes time to Value her career and education. She’s the first one to travel with me to take new classes and to encourage me to do my best.

Instagram: @jh.styles.llc

Image Credits
SV Photography